Anthaenantia rufa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; knotty. Culms 70–110 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades erect, or ascending; parallel-sided; 5–30 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 8–16 cm long; 2–3(–5) cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume obovate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume hairs dark brown. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; villous; bearing dark brown hairs; bearing hairs 0.6–1 mm long; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; cartilaginous; of similar consistency above; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea gaping; 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.6–2.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; exposed between gaping lemma and palea at maturity; 1.2–1.4 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gould.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.